Mental Health is more than what shows on the surface. A good outfit, neatly tied hair, well-spoken words, and a smiling face does not reflect a person’s good mental health. Often, we overlook what goes inside of a person and focus only on the physical aspects of an individual. The need to talk about mental health and understand why it stands important is essential. FairGaze is a staunch supporter of propagating and talking about the well-being of students and the people associated with them.
With the alarming statistics of suicide of young children due to various mental problems, the current scenario seems to be one that is devoid of a comfortable, open space for youngsters to learn and talk about what they are going through. FairGaze has accepted this challenge through its interactive webinar and campaign initiatives that provides a safe space to learn more about mental health. Our platform also has counsellors for guiding and counselling these young kids and their parents to face the problem and also provide solutions for the same. FairGaze believes in making children aware of mental health, and helping them learn the importance of well-being so that a depressed child in good clothes and a smiling face is sent as much help as possible.
Past Campaigns:
For the same, FairGaze organized two interactive categories of webinars aimed at fostering and improving our children’s mental health. Our Well-Being Webinar and Coffee With Counsellors Session do the job perfectly.
FairGaze also launched a campaign #Let’sOpenUp to mark World Mental Health Day and encourage students to open up about their stories.
With two special episodes of Well-Being Webinar and Coffee With Counsellors, children were made aware about mental health and their stories were heard.
World Mental Health Awareness Campaign
Mental health is everyone's concern. We all have times when we feel stressed or frightened or anxious. Most of the time these feelings pass over short period of time.
World Mental Health Awareness Week
But sometimes they become a more persistent issue and this could happen to anybody.Everyone is different. You may recover from these feelings while someone else may feel weighed down by it leading to related chronic issues.
Your psychological state doesn’t always stay constant. It can change as circumstances change and as you progress through different stages of your life. However, the stigma attached to psychological problems makes things worse. People feel uncomfortable talking about it and avoid seeking help.
Students are among the most affected segment of society but also the most ignored section of the society. Students are facing multiple issues which includes peer pressure, academic pressure, career growth, family issues but they are largely ignored or at best not attended to at all.
The students are afraid to share their emotions and their feelings of pain, fear, sufferings, anxieties, love, sexuality, aggression, etc. which remains suppressed and manifests sometimes as suicides. Let us encourage students to open up and talk it out without the fear of being judged. Let us encourage them to be themselves.
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on 10th October observed by World Health Organization, FairGazeis organizing World Mental Health Awareness Week - An online campaign for 5 Days starting from 5 October 2020 to 10 October 2020 engaging students from all over the country.
How can I get involved in World Mental Health Awareness Week with FairGaze?
Students can participate in mental wellbeing webinar, sharing stories, get interviewed by student journalists, seek advice from Dr.Madhumati Singh directly and discuss issues resolved in the Coffee With Counsellors session.
Who all can join?
All the students of schools from India and abroad are invited to join various engaging activities during World Mental Health Awareness Week from 5th October, 2020 to 10th October, 2020.
Activities
1. Mental Well Being
Webinar
By. Dr.Madhumati Singh On 5th October, 2020 at 4 P.M.
2. Share Your Story
We understand and know what you go through and there is no one to listen.
3. Interviews and Opinion Pieces
All the student journalists are invited to interview their friends, junior or any student to spread awareness about mental wellbeing and mental health.
Share Your Story
We understand and know what you go through and there is no one to listen. Share your story with us, we are here to listen without judging you.
If you want to keep your name anonymous, we will never reveal your identity. Couple of storiesmay be selected for discussion by Dr.Madhumati during her session Coffee with Counsellor on 9th October, 2020 ensuring complete anonymity of the student.
Student must use the hashtag#LetsOpenUp. Do indicate at the last of your story if you want to keep your name anonymous.
Interviews and Opinion Pieces
All the student journalists are invited to interview their friends, junior or any student to spread awareness about mental wellbeing and mental health.
Student Journalists are free to choose from Textual and Video Mode.
A. Interviews - Student journalist can interview using below mentioned questions only. Make sure only two questions are asked from interviewee. You need to mention your name, class and school name and then below your interviewee’s name, class and school name. If your interviewee wants to keep it anonymous, then while submitting the entry – do write Anonymous in the last.
B. Opinion Pieces – Student Journalists can submit their opinions around Mental Health and Wellness. They can also take these opinion pieces from their friends, juniors, classmates or any student. You need to mention your name, class and school name and then below your interviewee’s name, class and school name. If your interviewee wants to keep it anonymous, then clearly indicate “Anonymous” at the end.
A.Interviews - Student journalist can interview using below mentioned questions or can also develop their own questions. Make sure only two questions are asked from interviewee. You need to mention your name, class and school name and it depends on interviewee to speak their name or not. Kindly don’t force them to reveal identity. The interviewee must be a student and can be your friend, junior or classmate. Not more than 2 minutes interview will be accepted.
B. Bytes – If a student journalist is uncomfortable on camera, then they can record their audio only. Interviewee is free to remain anonymous in video. Kindly don’t force them to reveal identity. The interviewee must be a student and can be your friend, junior or classmate. Not more than 1 minute byte will be accepted.
Questions-
1. What is your biggest pain and fear?
2. What do you understand by mental health and why is it important?
